Dinner
Farfalla Trattoria - Rustic, Homestyle Italian
Farfalla Trattoria
1978 Hillhurst
Los Feliz, CA
It was that time again - lunch with Noah. He’s an old co-worker I won’t let go of. Everyone needs one, or twelve, lunching companions. The type that finish your sentences and love to eat as much as you do.
This time around, we chose Farfalla Trattoria in Los Feliz. I was craving authentic and rustic Italian chow, and was warmed by the reviews I read. We arrived during the heart of lunch, yet the place was almost empty. I’m hoping it’s a nighttime spot, as it’s worthy.
Service was standard - nothing to rave or rant about. The space itself I liked very much - dark wooden walls and accents, and a back wall lined with wine bottles. I felt cozy and comfortable, and the pasta craving kicked in with a vengeance.
The goods –
Drinks:
I didn’t eye the wine list, but something tells me it’s standard but tasty Italian selections. Had soda and water only.
Entrees:
Mine
Fusilli with Aged Ricotta cheese, chanterelles, spinach, and truffle oil
* If you’re going to have pasta, go *all* out. I really enjoyed this dish. The olive oil with truffles didn’t get lost with the ricotta and other ingredients, and was the shining star. Decadent, but not too rich, the grooves of the corkscrew pasta held tight to pockets of the oil and truffle lusciousness, making some bites of this entree an absolute explosion of bliss. Well done indeed.
Noah’s
Gnocchi with Chicken and Pesto
* I loathe overcooked gnocchi - getting the consistency of this potato delicacy is a huge burden, but Farfalla did an outstanding job. The pesto was just so-so, but the gnocchi had a slight firmness, velvety texture, and a gorgeous smoothness. The chicken was nothing special, but that didn’t decrease the yumminess of the potato pasta squares.
The damage for 1 soda and 2 entrees was about $28, before tip.
RESTAURANT REPORT CARD - Visit 1
Ambiance - B
Service - C+
Food (Taste) - B
Food (Presentation) - C-
Wine/Drinks - N/A (did not consume enough to grade)
Value - B-
Vibe/Energy/Scene - D+
Overall Experience - C+
Final word - I’d like to try some other specialties, but would love more vibrance and energy. Perhaps a Friday night trip is in order.
By PoetKitty (see more of her posts). You can find more of PoetKitty's writing at her own website OMG Food!
Discussion
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I have had both lunch and dinner at Farfalla, and what a difference the night makes! The restaurant definitely gets jumping after about 7 or so; oddly enough, the extra number of diners really add to the restaurant’s intimacy and coziness. Friday night dinner would be a great time to revisit.
We ate there last night, as a matter of fact. I really wanted to like the place, and it was certainly comfortable, but the food wasn’t spectacular. We split the arugula salad, I had the spag amatriciana, and the Gnocchi King had, yes, the gnocchi (although I steered him away from the pesto, on your advice). All the food was good enough but not great.
PS: The cheapest bowl of pasta should not cost less than the cheapest glass of wine.
I guess I have to echo the previous reviewers opinions, and I would have to give them a “C” overall. More misses than hits food wise, with only so-so service. I haven’t been there in awhile, but it doesn’t sound like much has changed, which is disappointing. That being said, I know people who think of this restaurant as one of their favorites, so there must be something good going on over there sometimes. Just not when I’ve been there, I guess.
I abandoned Farfalla for Il Capriccio (just a few blocks away) a while back. You can get a really good meal at Farfalla but I do not find it a relaxing experience even when it is good. The seating is so cramped at night, there’s often a long wait on that tiny sidewalk, and the service is mos def C+.
Ah, Il Capriccio - thanks for the tip! I spied that place after Farfalla and wondered about the comparison - I shall indulge soon and report back!